The Law of Angels by Cassandra Clark

Author:Cassandra Clark [Clark, Cassandra]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780312674557
Amazon: B00457X89E
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

The sun was beating down out of a molten sky. Nothing new there. It seemed the hot weather would never end. It might easily be the beginning of the Apocalypse as many believed.

Master Edric Danby was sitting outside his workshop on his usual bench against the wall. At first sight it was a scene of normal domesticity. His shirt was undone, however, and his bald head shone unprotected in the glare of the sun. He was mumbling something to himself and paid no heed when Hildegard, hot, dishevelled, weeping within herself, arrived back after her ride across the moors.

A spilled flagon lay on the ground beside the glazier, the liquor evaporating in the heat.

At that moment the Widow Tabitha Roberts came out of her house carrying a cup. She didn’t notice Hildegard at the entrance to the yard. “Drink this posset, Edric, do, for the love of God.”

“What ails the master?” Hildegard asked, stepping forward.

Tabitha turned in surprise. “Thank the Lord you’ve returned. Maybe you can talk sense into him?” She tried to force the cup to his lips.

With a roar Danby dashed it to one side. “Posset, woman? Do you think that’s going to mend me?” He thrust his head into both hands and began to sob. His whole body heaved.

The widow turned away. “I’m at my wit’s end with him. I’ve had enough.”

Gilbert appeared in the doorway. His face was as pale as usual, his bright hair pulled back in its ponytail, his grey eyes wary.

The widow wiped her hands on her apron and with a last glare went inside her own house.

“Gilbert?” Hildegard went over.

“He’s been like this since he got back. Drinking and howling—”

“But why?” She felt frightened. “Is Brother Thomas harmed?”

Gilbert shook his head. “He’ll be back here straight after prime. It’s Dorelia. She’s vanished.”

“What do you mean?”

Gilbert went back inside the workshop and, astonished, she saw him bend his head over his work as if nothing else mattered.

Danby looked up, then recognition dawned and when she went over he reached out to grip her by the sleeve. “Not a ghost then, but safe. Thank St. Benet and all the heavenly host. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw you brought into camp t’other night. Then having to leave you … I can’t tell you how it wrenched us to the soul and then … like a judgement … to come back to this—” His chest heaved again.

“What’s happened to Dorelia?” she asked.

“Absconded. With that apprentice of mine! I’d no idea—” He lapsed into incoherence again, repeating, “I’d no idea … right under my nose … how could I not notice? How could she? Didn’t she mean anything she said? Lies, all lies. Her look when she said those soft words … looking me in the eyes and brazenly lying to me … oh God, help me!”

Hildegard sat down next to him and let him rant.

She was in this position when Ulf strode into the yard with a jangle of spurs.

He checked in astonishment when he saw her then hurried forward.

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